Stephanie Foreman
Instructor Clayn Lambert
English 1102
December 1, 2011
Drug Testing Should Be Required to Become Eligible for Food Stamps
Half of American children will live in households receiving food stamps before age 20, according to a study reported in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine (998). With that statistic in mind how are we as a country holding the parents who receive the food stamp assistance for their families accountable for being drug free?
When I was a child growing up I was lucky enough to live in a family that was able to be self-sufficient and did not have to use the aid of the government food stamp program. As a matter of fact I did not even know that there was a program that helped families that didn’t have enough money for food for their families.
In my mid-twenties I became a single mother and worked a full time job. I struggled to make ends meet, to pay for day care, diapers, and all the other bills. It wasn’t until I was told by some friends of mine that there was a program for low income families to help them pay for food. I never looked into it because I worked a full time job and the offices were closed when I was off work. I did however learn that my friends were able to buy the food stamps from the individuals that were on the program for half the price they were worth. That meant that they could buy $100 worth of food stamps for $50. So they were able to buy $100 worth of food for ½ the price. That was the 1st time I had heard of this and I didn’t understand at that time where the food stamps came from and why individuals would sell them.
Today many years later and several drug abusing neighbors since then, I can say I have seen it first hand, those individuals that receive food stamps and are selling them to buy drugs. That is why I believe it should be mandatory to pass a drug test before being approved for food stamps and submit random drug tests while receiving those services.
As taxpayers we have agreed to give needed money to help those who do not have enough money to feed their families assistance, by way of food stamps, supporting those families until they can get back on their feet. Being a taxpayer myself I don’t want that money to go to anything else but what it is intended for. A Republican state representative in Missouri, Ellen Brandom was quoted in the New York Times stating, “Working people today work very hard to make ends meet, and it just doesn’t seem fair to them that their tax dollars go to support illegal things,” (States Adding Drug Test as Hurdle for Welfare). Taxpayers are giving their taxes to people that are struggling to assist them during hard times. The hope is that they will lift themselves up, get a job and be able to get to a place where they do not need public assistance. When someone abuses that right and takes that money and assistance and uses their time to get high and drunk instead of trying to make their lives better, then drug testing is necessary.
How does the State of Idaho protect the tax dollars received from Idaho citizens from being used by those who are abusing drugs? To be very direct, there is none! On the State of Idaho Government website it states that the “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (a.k.a. the Food Stamp Program) helps low-income families supplement their food needs by providing limited funds in order to buy foods necessary for staying healthy. In order to receive food assistance from the State of Idaho, you must complete the application process and meet certain eligibility requirements such as:
· You must be a citizen or legal immigrant.
· You must be a resident of the State of Idaho.
· Your household income must be less than the program income limits for your household size.
· With some exceptions, you must work or participate in an employment and training program” (Idaho Department of Health and Welfare).
Idaho does not require individuals to submit any form of drug tests. Drug abuse and food stamps are already connected as shown in a report by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. The report shows in Idaho’s summary of state spending on substance abuse and addiction in 2005 that for every dollar that Idaho spends on substance abuse 68 cents of that shoulders the burden of public programs such as food stamps (Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse). In other words, Idaho spends more than half of the state taxes that are used to combat substance abuse, to provide food stamps to those who abuse drugs. There needs to be a drug testing program that will be used to lower that percentage of money used for food stamps. If Idaho had some form of drug testing requirement in place, then those dollars could be used for other programs that have been cut.
On the federal government level the report shows that the federal government spent $235.4 billion on programs related to child and family assistance. Of this amount, 15.6 percent or $36.7 billion is directly linked to substance abuse and addiction, including child welfare, food and nutritional assistance, income assistance, housing/homeless assistance, child and family assistance and employment” (Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse). Billions of dollars are spent to provide food assistance to substance abusing individuals. That is why some states, such as Florida, are implementing a drug test prior to receiving assistance from federally funded programs such as food stamps. In the pie graph provided by the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse show below, it provides a visual of the amount of tax dollars spent on the burden of substance abuse. As shown 24.5%, the second largest, of the public’s tax dollars are being used to pay for Food Assistance. If there were drug testing in place this number would be far less.
If Idaho was to implement a program that would require drug testing, those individuals that were not able to pass would be given the opportunity to enroll in a drug treatment program. The drug testing would be a gateway for help to deliver other services to those that are in need to help with those obstacles that are keeping them from becoming self-sufficient and getting a job.
I read a story on the internet by a young man that was giving feedback to an article that was written on the internet titled “In tough times, save by giving up bad habits” his name is David Snell and his story is one that caught my attention because it is a personal story that illistrates a family situation that could have been helped with mandatory drug testing for food stamps recipients. He said “I have grown up in a drug addicted welfare supported home from 7-9 years of age I learned what it is like. While my mother slipped into a meth habit she had no job with 4 kids to feed. Welfare gave her 1,500 a month in food stamp and received around $700 in child support a month. Trading food stamps for drugs and slowly spiraling downward our life was poor. Because all the money was spent on drugs I began drinking Kool-Aid or water only, eating junk food that I made while my mother could hardly focus on one thing for a second. Eventually we had no electricity and my mom and her boyfriend chopped up my bunk bed my father had built for me and my brother. They burned it to keep warm and used candles and lanterns for light. One day my mother spilled lantern oil while filling the tank and it became ignited by a candle she was using for light. The trailer we lived in for years burned to the ground and we lost everything we had except the clothes on our backs. That was rock bottom and I know if drug tests were mandatory for welfare, she might have reach bottom sooner and turned her life around.”
Drug abuse can keep people from becoming self-sufficient. Drug use and abuse will close doors to job opportunities that drug abusers would be eligible for if they could pass a drug test. Numerous occupations require drug testing before getting hired and also during employment.
In an interview with a Heinz employee, I was told that if an individual was interested in working for Heinz they need to go through SOS Temporary Staffing Agency, fill out the application and then submit a drug test in order to be eligible for employment at Heinz. After they are hired, random drug testing is enforced, in order to keep their job.
If those that have a job or are looking for a job must submit a drug test, then it also needs to be enforced for those that are asking for public tax dollars to fund food assistance. It also should be enforced to submit to random testing during the time they are receiving the aid. If drug testing were mandatory while an individual was unemployed and receiving food stamps, then they could receive services to help stop the drug abuse and get a job.
Florida has passed a law requiring mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients. People who favor this say that testing will help those who need drug treatment get it and therefore be better qualified to obtain and keep jobs. Idaho could mirror the drug testing laws of Florida by having the individuals that are applying for food stamps pay for the drug test. If the drug test comes back clean then the state would reimburse the individual for the cost of the drug test. If the individual does not pass the drug test then they are not reimbursed and then have the opportunity to get help. “Having food stamp recipients submit to drug testing would help to identify high-risk individuals of the welfare population that are in need of alcohol and drug prevention, intervention, and/or treatment programs. Education programs, counseling and other forms of treatment of alcohol and drug problems could be added into the welfare system. If there were prevention programs and treatment services for alcohol and drug problems among welfare recipients that would help to those individuals reach the goals of work, responsibility, and reduction of dependency on the food stamp program. The implementation of prevention programs and treatment services for alcohol and drug problems among welfare recipients would foster and facilitate the major goals of work, responsibility, and reduction of dependency “ (Dawson).
The study by the National Drug Use and Health, states that illicit drug use was higher for unemployed persons (17.0 percent) than for those who were employed full time (8.0 percent) or part time (11.5 percent) (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).
If drug use is higher for those who are unemployed and those who are unemployed are those that are in need of food stamps then as a country we should not ignore that fact. Drug testing can help those individuals using drugs and reduce the amount of American tax dollars paying to sustain those who are not helping themselves become self-sufficient.
Just why is “drug-free” a meaningful requirement to us? Children need to be raised in a loving family that is focused on teaching them how to become self-sufficient adults. When a parent is using drugs the effects can be damaging to the children. Children need to have a better chance at a good life that does not include drugs in their lives. When a parent is using drugs the effects can be damaging to the children. Children want to have a better chance at a good life that does not include drugs. It think that drug testing puts the parents in a position to be motivated to seek help and get off drugs to they can keep the food stamp assistance they are receiving or to be eligible to obtain it. It is amazing that more than 8 million children in this country live with substance-abusing parents (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
If a drug test was given to each individual that applies for or receives food stamps that would give the parent that tested positive for drugs the opportunity to enter a treatment program and become self-sufficient. Every child has a right to be free of drug and alcohol-abusing parents. If a drug test was given to each individual that applies for or receives food stamps then those parents that tested positive for drugs would get the opportunity to enter a treatment program and become self –sufficient. “Every child has a right to be free of drug and alcohol-abusing parents who are abusing or neglecting their children and who refuse to enter treatment or despite treatment are unable to conquer their abuse and addiction”. (The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University).
If a parent was unable to overcome their addictions food stamp payments could still continue but would go to another person, like a grandparent. “The equation is simple: When you stabilize the parents, you stabilize the children”, says Kirsten Lodal, chief executive and co-founder of LIFT, a national nonprofit that assists low-income families with employment, housing and public benefits. Substance abuse and addiction severely compromise or destroy the ability of parents to provide a safe and nurturing home for a child.
In general, family income below $9,000, lack of health insurance, and having a family member in the same household receiving welfare were associated with the highest past year prevalence of any illicit drug use and past year marijuana use. Lack of health insurance and receipt of welfare assistance also were associated with past year cocaine use, especially among adults (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Another study done states that “Harmful substance use or dependence disorders are also more prevalent among welfare recipients” (Olson & Pavetti, 1996). The studies show that this group of individuals that are receiving food stamps are at a higher risk of using drugs. It is important to drug test so that the families can get a job. If they are using drugs they are not going to be able to find a job this could mean years of tax dollars, in the form of food stamps, will be spent supporting them.
The nation's inability to protect children whose parents are substance abusers springs from the lack of practice guidelines to achieve federal and state policy objectives; and the lack of federal and state support for prevention, substance abuse treatment, training, research and evaluation. (The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University)
Federal and state governments spend more than 60 times as much to clean up the devastation substance abuse and addiction visits on children as they do on prevention and treatment for them (Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse). Part of the way that the government can help to prevent and treat drug abuse would be to drug test for food stamps. It is a good way it get the help and treatment that is needed to the people that may have a problem with drugs. If they get the treatment that they need they can continue receiving the benefits from the government. If they refuse the treatment then they can have another family member receive the food stamps for the children. The goal of this proposition would be to help families become self-sufficient by helping them get off drugs so they are able to get a job. Because it is so important to use the government funds to help those that are in a situation where they need help temporarily, it is important to help those individuals stay drug-free.
Drug testing is a good way to help tax payers feel like they are helping those in need and not giving to those who are using the assistance to abuse drugs. It is a gateway for services that could be provided to individuals who need it.
With drug testing we as a country are holding the parents who receive the food stamp assistance for their families accountable for being drug free.
Works Cited
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. "Estimating the Risk of Food Stamp Use and Impoverishment During Childhood." Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine 163.11 (2009): 998.
Bowers, Becky. "Florida is not the first state to require drug testing of welfare applicants." St. Petersburg Times 10 October 2011.
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. Shoveling Up II: The Impact of Substance Abuse on Federal, State and Local Budgets. New York: The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 2009.
Dawson, B.F., Grand D.A. "Alcohol and Drug Use, Abuse, and Dependence Among Welfare Recipients." American Journal of Public Health 86 (1996): 1450-1454.
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. 2009. 01 12 2011 <http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/ApplyforAssistance/Applyforservices/Whoiseligible/tabid/1556/Default.aspx>.
Jayakody, Rukmalie, Seldon Danziger and Harold Pollack. "Welfare Reform, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health." American Journal of Public Health (1996): 1450-1454.
Musgrave, Beth. "Latest Local, State News." 18 February 2011. Kentucky.com. 26 October 2011 <http://www.kentucky.com/2011/02/18/1639446/proposal-to-drug-test-recipients.html#ixzz1cgOsW4JH>.
Olson, K. and L. Pavetti. Personal and Family Challenges to the Successful Transition from Welfare to Work. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services, 1996.
Robert E. Crew, Jr., PhD and Belinda Creel Davis, PhD. "Assessing the Effects of Substance Abuse Among Applicants for TANF Benefits: The Outcome of a Demonstration Project in Florida." Journal of Health & Social Policy (2003): 39-53.
Snell, David L. "In tough times, save by giving up bad habits." 15 September 2011. 08a.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. "1997 National Survey on Drug Abuse." 1997. SAMHSA. <http://www.samhsa.gov/data/nhsda/1997main/nhsda1997mfWeb-119.htm#Table13.1>.
—. National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Findings. Rockville: Office of Applied Studies, NSDUH Series, 2009.
Sulzberger, A. G. "States Adding Drug Test as Hurdle for Welfare." The New York Times 11 October 2011: A1.
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. No Safe Haven: Children of Substance-Abusing Parents. New York: The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 1999.
"The New York Times." Food Stamps and the Tough Economy 5 December 2009: WK9.
Tietenberg, Tom and Henk, Editors Folmer. The International Yearbook of Environmental Resource Economics, 2006/2007. Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishers, 2006.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Blending Perspectives and Building Common Ground. A Report to Congress on Substance Abuse and Child Protection. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1999.
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